Posted on 01/30/2004 5:02:35 PM PST by Happy2BMe
FAIR’s Congressional Voting Report is designed to help you understand a U.S. representative’s support for immigration measures to strengthen or weaken immigration control during the first session of the 108th Congress. We have chosen two key votes, cosponsorship on twelve immigration-related bills, and membership in the House Immigration Reform Caucus as the benchmarks for assessing stances. Where a member voted in line with FAIR’s recommendations or cosponsored a bill that FAIR supports, you will see a plus sign (+). Where a member voted against FAIR’s recommendations or supported a bill that FAIR opposed, you will see a minus sign (-). Membership in the House Immigration Reform Caucus is indicated by a plus (+).
House Vote Number 409
H.AMDT.293 - Tancredo Sanctuary Amendment
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO)
FAIR fully supported the Tancredo amendment to the appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, and Related Agencies. The amendment would prohibit any Department of Homeland Security funds from being allocated to states or localities that refuse to share information with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status as required by a 1996 law. The amendment was prompted by actions increasingly taken by cities and local jurisdictions adopting non-cooperation ordinances banning local enforcement officials from sharing information with federal immigration authorities.
A vote for the Tancredo amendment indicates the member supports efforts to prevent states and localities from adopting non-cooperation laws that offer illegal aliens safe harbor. If the member voted with FAIR for the amendment, you'll see a plus sign (+). If the member voted against the amendment, you'll see a minus sign (-). Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated by a vote of 122-305, with seven House members not voting.
House Vote Number 367
H.AMDT.246 - Hostettler Consular ID Amendment
Sponsor: Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN)
FAIR fully supported the Hostettler amendment to authorize the State Department to regulate the issuance of foreign consular ID cards, such as the Mexican matricula consular, in the United States. The FBI and the Department of Justice say that matricula consular cards are not a reliable form of identification and pose "major criminal threats" and a "potential terrorist threat." Hostettler's amendment directs the Secretary of State to issue regulations that would require foreign missions issuing consular ID cards to collect information on every card recipient and make that information available to the State Department.
If the member voted with FAIR for the amendment, you'll see a plus sign (+). If the member voted against the amendment, you'll see a minus sign (-). The House approved the amendment by a vote of 226-198 on July 15, 2003. It still awaits consideration by the Senate.
H.R. 2671 - The Clear Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA)
FAIR supports H.R. 2671, which would give state and local law enforcement agencies the authority and resources needed to detain criminal illegal aliens within the course of their regular duties. It would also create a new grant program for the purchase of equipment for housing and processing illegal aliens. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 946 - Mass Immigration Reduction Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO)
FAIR supports H.R. 946, a bill to return the nation to traditional levels of immigration of about 300,000 annually, versus our current record levels of more than one million a year. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 775 - Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
FAIR supports H.R. 775, which would eliminate the much abused diversity visa lottery program. The removal of this controversial program will help ensure our nation's security, make the administration of our immigration laws more consistent and fair, and help reduce immigration fraud. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 3522 - The SAFER Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC)
FAIR supports H.R. 3522, which closes loopholes in our immigration system that leave us vulnerable to future acts of terror. This comprehensive bill would strengthen our borders, increase screening and tracking of aliens, enhance immigration enforcement efforts, and expedite the removal of deportable aliens, among many other reforms. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 687 - The Identification Integrity Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA)
FAIR supports H.R. 687, which would bar acceptance by the federal government of identification cards issued by foreign governments. The growing acceptance of foreign government-issued identity cards, such as the Mexican matricula consular card, is of concern because they are non-verifiable, used primarily by illegal aliens, and pose "major criminal threats," according to the FBI and Department of Justice. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 3235 - Responsible and Secure ID Act
Sponsor: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
FAIR supports H.R. 3235, which would penalize states that issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens by suspending 25 percent of the state's annual transportation funding. Funds withheld under Hunter's legislation would be made available to the Department of Homeland Security for border security and enforcement purposes. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 687 - The Identification Integrity Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA)
FAIR supports H.R. 687, which would bar acceptance by the federal government of identification cards issued by foreign governments. The growing acceptance of foreign government-issued identity cards, such as the Mexican matricula consular card, is of concern because they are non-verifiable, used primarily by illegal aliens, and pose "major criminal threats," according to the FBI and Department of Justice. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 3052 - State Accountability and Identity Fraud Elimination Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO)
FAIR supports H.R. 3025, which would withhold up to 25 percent of federal transportation funding from states issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 2849 - USA Jobs Protection Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT)
FAIR supports H.R. 2849, which would amend the H-1B and L-1 visa programs to prevent corporations from bringing in cheap labor at the expense of American workers. The bill would increase the authority of the Department of Labor to enforce L-1 and H-1B visa requirements and place wage restrictions on the L-1 visa category, requiring that employers pay foreign workers prevailing U.S. wages. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 2702 - L-1 Nonimmigrant Reform Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
FAIR supports H.R. 2702, which would amend the L-1 visa program to prevent corporations from bringing in cheap labor at the expense of American workers. The bill would place an annual cap of 35,000 on L-1 visas, require employers to pay L-1 visa holders prevailing U.S. wages, and deny L-1 visas to any company that has laid off an American worker within six months of filing a visa application. Members who cosponsored the legislation have plus signs (+) in this column.
H.R. 1684 - The Student Adjustment Act of 2003
Sponsor: Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT)
FAIR opposes H.R. 1684, which would allow illegal aliens to attend state universities at in-state tuition rates, while unfairly denying those benefits to U.S. citizens and legal immigrants from other states. The bill would also grant amnesty to illegal aliens under the age of 21 who have been in the United States for five consecutive years. Members who cosponsored this amnesty bill have minus signs (-) in this column.
H.R. 2899 - The Border Security and Immigration Improvement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
FAIR opposes H.R. 2899, which would create a new massive guestworker amnesty program that would allow nearly all currently resident illegal aliens to participate and eventually apply for legal permanent resident status. There would be no limit on the number of new foreign "guestworkers" permitted to enroll annually, nor would there be a limit on the number of "guestworkers" who could adjust to legal permanent resident. Members who cosponsored this amnesty bill have minus signs (-) in this column.
H.R. 3142 - Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2003 (AgJOBS)
Sponsor: Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT)
H.R. 3142 would provide a "one-time" amnesty for illegal aliens engaged in farm work and their spouses and children. The bill also expands the H-2A agricultural guestworker program. Members who cosponsored this amnesty bill have minus signs (-) in this column.
Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus
Members of the Immigration Reform Caucus have plus signs (+) for their dedication to reforming our immigration laws to serve the interests of Americans and preserve the rule of law.
You tell me.
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